Scraper assembly



Oct. 1 2, 1937. E. B. MALOON 2,095,759

' SCRAPER ASSEMBLY Filed-Oct. 2, 1935 2 sheets-sheet 1 INVENT OR.

. BY I ATTORNEY5.

Oct. 12, 1937.

' E. B. MALOON S CRAPER AS SEMBLY Filed Oct. 2,1955 2 Sheets-Shet 2 INVENTOR."

ATTORNEYV Patented o r. 12, 1937 SCRAPIFR ASSEMBLY Earl B. Maloon, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to The Hell 00., Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application October 2, 1935, Serial No. 43,137

. 14 Claims. (01. 37-124) The present invention relates ingeneral to improvements in the art of excavating and conveying dirt, gravel and rock, and relates more specifically to improvements in the construction'and operation of scrapers for digging and carrying earth and stone in connection with excavating and grading projects.

Generally defined, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved scraper assembly of extremely durable construction having maximum capacity and efficiency.

It has heretofore been proposed to provide a scraper having a main bowl swingably supported upon a rear axle and extending forwardly therefrom; a single central beam or frame swingably supported upon a front axle and extending rearwardly over the bowl,,the front portion of the bowl being pivotally attached to the medial portion of the beam frame and the rear portions of the bowl and frame being relatively movable to raise or lower the cutting edge; a rear apron movable within the bowl to discharge the contents; and a front apron pivotally suspended from the frame and movable relative to the forward end of the bowl. Such an assemblage is shown in Patent No. 1,958,195, granted May 8, 1934 to C. LeBleu, and while scrapers embodying the general combination of elements recited, have been quitesuccessful in actual commercial use, these prior devices were undesirably bulky and cumbersome, and lacked suflicient strength to withstand extremely severe service. The use of a single central beam frame in these prior scraper assemblages, produces a relatively high and rather weak support'for the carrier bowl, and prevents maximum loading. In these prior structures, the bowl and front apron are also supported from the beam frame by independent and separated pivots, and this suspension makes it impossible to secure most effective coaction between the bowl and apron at all times. Then too, the actuating mechanism for the bowl and aprons of these prior scrapers, were relatively complicated r and inefficient, thus making it impossible to handle maximum quantities of material under extremely severe conditions of operation.

It is therefore a more specific object of the present invention to provide various improvements especially applicable to scrapers of the above described type, which will obviate the dimculties and objections referred to.

Another specific object of the invention is to provide an improved bowl supporting and actu- 5 ating frame which is very durable in construc- Cir tion, and which does not-in any way interfere with maximum loading of the carrier bowl.

A further specific object of the invention is to provide an improved mounting for the bowl and front apron of such scrapers, whereby most eifective cooperation between these elements is maintained'at all times, and the apron will function front of the scraper blade when. the bowl is elevated to carrying position.

Still another specific object of the invention is to provide improvements in the hydraulic jacks for actuating the scraper bowl and aprons, whereby these parts may be quickly and positively manipulated at high speed irrespective of the conditions to which the scraper is subjected at v the time of actuation of the Jacks.

Another specific object of my present inve tion is'to provide improved instrumentalities for facilitating attachment of large scrapers or the like, to a propelling vehicle such as a tractor.

An additional specific object of the invention is to provide a new and useful scraper assemblage scraper assemblages built in accordance therewith, may .be had by referring to the drawings accompanying and forming a partof this specification in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the various views.

Fig. 1 is a part sectional sideelevation of one of the improved scraper assemblages, showing the main bowl in digging position and the aprons retracted to permit unobstructed digging;

Fig. 2 is a full side elevation of the scraper showing the bowl and apronsin load carrying position;

Fig. 3 is another part sectional side elevation of the assemblage showing the bowl and front apron elevated, and the rear apron moved forwardly to unloading position;

Fig. 4 is a full top view of the scraper unit with the parts positioned as in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary-sectional view of the cooperating lower portions of the bowl and front apron, showing the latter in the act of closing and of removing the hill of material 11 advance of the cutting edge of the bowl; and

to remove the hills of earth and stones from in or assembly comprises in general a main recepterconnected by a beam 2|.

tacle or bowl 8 supported to swing about a rear pivot or axle 8; a frame I8 supported to swing about a front pivot or fulcrum ball II and having rearwardly extending opposite side arms I2 extending along the opposite sides of the bowl 8;

alined pivots I3 connecting the opposite side walls I4 of the bowl 8 with medial portions of the arms I2; a front bucket or apron- I5 swingably suspended from the pivots I3 and cooper-able with the forward cutting edge I5'of the bowl 8; a rear pusher or apron I'I swingably-suspended from the bowl 8 by alined side pivots I8 and movable along the bowl bottom I9 between the side walls I 4; a plurality of hydraulic jacks for independently actuating the bowl 8 and the aprons I5, I1; and power means for operating the jacks.

The main bowl 8 is preferably formed of heavy steel plates welded together, and has rearwardly extending heavy integral brackets 28 which are fulcrumed upon the rear axle 9; and the upper rear portions of the side walls I4 are rigidly in- I The cutting or scraping edge I6 is formed upon a removable and V reversible plate, and chisel teeth 22 may be respaced intervals as shown in Fig. 4. The frame I8 may also be formed of heavy steel plate or of cast metal, and the side arms I2 are rigidly connected to the opposite ends of a hollow cylindrical crossam 23; the medial portion of which is likewise connected to the front goose-neck which carries the pivot ball II. The bowl 8 and frame I8 may also be additionallyreenforced and strengthened wherever desirable in order to produce an extremely durable assemblage capable of withstanding severe stresses without distortion thereof. g

The rear ends of the side arms I2 of the frame I8 are rigidly interconnected by a tubular element 24 having rearwa rdly projecting sets 'of in.- tegral ears 25 disposed closely adjacent to the arm ends, and the cross-beam 2| of the bowl 8 t has similar sets of' integral ears 43 projecting rearwardly therefrom. Two similar hydraulic jacks eachicomprising a cylinder 25 pivotally suspended from the .adjacentset of cars 21 by trunnions 21', and a piston movable within the cylinder. 26' and having a rod '28 pivotally attached to the-corresponding set of ears 25 by a pivot pin 28 cooperate with the bowl 8 and frame I8 to' relatively swing the same about the alined pivots I3 which connect the opposite side walls I4 of the bowl with the medial portions of the frame arms I2. These similar jacks have cylinders 25 of like capacity and are simultaneously operable at all times, being disposed substantially vertical and closely adjacent to the rear end of the bowl 8.

The front bucket or apron I5 may likewise be formed of heavy steel plate and comprises a curved forward wall having a substantially tangent lower portion 38 provided with a cutting edge 3I, and side plates 32 provided with rear extensions 33 which are slidable along the inner surfaces of the bowl .walls I4 during swinging of the apron I5 about the alined pivots I3. The

mounting of this front apron I5 upon the side 5 pivotsj l3, avoids obstruction to loading above the bowl and apron; and by utilizing the same pivots I3 which'interconnect the bowl 8 and frame I8 to also swingably support the apron I5, the cutting edge3l will most effectively cooperate with the teeth. 22 and edge I5 ofthe bowl during closing movement of the apron I5 and the tangent apron portion 38 is made most effective in removing hills of material 34 when the bowl 8 is withdrawn from cutting position, see Fig. 5. outer sides of the apron side plates 32 have brackets 35 which are pivotally attached to the I 'forward ends of side links 36, and these links extend along the side walls I4 of the bowl 8 and have their rear ends pivotally attached to the upper swinging ends of side levers 31 which are mounted upon a rear pivot shaft 38.

The rear pivot 'shaft 38 is journalledin bearings 39 secured to the lower rear portion of the main bowl 8, and extends entirely across the machine, and this shaft also carries a lever arm 48 at its medial portion between one of the cylinders I 28 and the adjacent bowl bracket 28. A second hydraulic jack mechanism comprising a cylinder 4|, pivotally suspended by trunnions 42 from cars 43 carried by the rear upper portion of the bowl 8, anda piston having a movable rod 44 pivotally attached to the swinging end of the lever arm 40, is adapted to swing the front apron I5 about the pivots I3 through theiarm 48, shaft 38, levers 37 and links 38, independently of the adjusting movement of the main,bowl 8. g

The rear pusher or apron I! may also be formed of heavy steel plate, and has opposite side plates 45which are movable along the inner sides of the bowl walls I4 during swinging of this apron about the pivots I8. The lower edge of the rear apron I1 is adapted to travel closely adjacent to the bowl bottom I9, and the'suspension pivots I8 coact with upward extensions 48 secured to the opposite side walls I4 of the main bowl, thereby again avoiding obstruction above the bowl 8 and leaving the top of the bowl open for loading at all times. The rear apron I1 is swingable back and forth within the main bowl, 50

by means of a third hydraulic jack mechanism comprising a cylinder 41 pivotall'y suspended on trunnions 48 between the spaced brackets 28, and having therein a piston provided with a mov-.

able rod 49 which is pivotally connected to a cross-shaft 58 carried by the rear of the apron IT, as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4.

The hydraulic jack mechanism for independ-' ently actuating the bowl 8, front apron I5, and

rear apron II, are of the double acting type, and 60 ,are operable by oil circulated by a pump SI, and

the flow of which is controllable by valve mechanism 52 carried upon the brackets 28 near an operator's platform 53. The pump 5I may be driven by a motor 54 of any suitable type, and 5 ported from the ground by rear wheels 55, and the fulcrum ball II may be likewise supported by front wheels 56' rotatably'associated with a drawbar frame 5]. Because of the relatively great weight of the rear scraper assembly, the ball II is preferably caused to coact with a socket 58 The 15 carried by the draft frame 51 and disposed rearwardly of the axis of the wheels. 56, as clearly disclosed in Fig. 6. This assemblage facilitates manipulation of the draw bar, 59 and attachment thereof to the pulling vehicle. 7

'During normal digging operation of the improved scraper assembly, the device is being transported along the ground by a tractor-attached to the draw bar, 59, and the bowl 8 and aprons I5,, l1 are positioned as shown in Fig. 1'. The

teeth 22 and cutting edge iii are being forced through the earth 34 and as the forwardly extending teeth .22 initially pry and loosen the ma- 'terial,'the cutting edge l6 approaches the loosened substances whereupon the mixture of earth, stones, and sod is elevated and deposited within the bowl 8. This loading action may be continued until the bowl 8 is filled to overflowing and even after the forward portionof the charge has extendedv itself forwardly beyond vertical position. The front apron I may, then be lowered by the operator, as indicated in Fig. 5, and the front apron l5 has been lowered to its extremelimit, as illustrated in Fig. 2, the scraper assembly is in carrying or transporting condition. The material may then be transported to any desired location and may be subsequently discharged by the operator upon placing the elements in the position shown in Fig. 3. During unloading, the front'apron I5 may be elevated and the rear apron I! may be brought forward-' ly as illustrated in Fig. 3, these operations either being successive or simultaneous; Upon elevation of the front apron I5, the forward portion of the charge will drop out of the apron by gravity, and as the pusher apron I1 is moved forwardly, the material forming within the bowl 8 and normally resting uponthe bottom thereof,

will be positively ejected overthe cutting edge l6 and teeth 22 and will drop upon the g'round.-

After the charge has been completely removed, the rear apron I! may again be returned to a position in substantiahcontactwith the beam 21, and the bowl 8 may again be lowered into digging position. I

' From the foregoing description it, will be apparent that. the machine may be quickly and readily manipulated by an operator positioned either upon the platform 53 or upon the tractor, the latter operation being effected through remote controls. The hydraulic. jack mechanisms which are operable independently of each other to actuate either the bowl, front apron 15, or rear apron l1, act quickly and positively to actuate these various elements, and the disposition of these jack mechanisms as shown, provides a simple and compact arrangement, and the mechanisms are effectively protected against possible damage. By maintaining the upper portion of the bowl 8 and front apron l5 entirely free from obstructiomthe carrier bracket may be loaded to overflowing .without danger of damaging any portion of the'machine, and without obstruction to the loading. This eliminationof obstructions is due largely to the formation of the frame llland to the location-of the pivots l3, l8. The suspension of the front apron l5 upon the same pivotal axis as that connectingthe bowl 8 and the main frame In, insures most eflicientoperation of this apron and coaction thereof with the bowl 8 at all times, and this common suspension and the peculiar formation ofthe apron i5 also insures effective removal of the hills in front'of the main bowl during raising thereof. The entire structure is moreover extremely durable in construction, and the disposition of the pivot socket 58 rearwardly of the axis of rotation'of the wheels 56, facilitates manipulation of the draw bar 59 in spite of the fact that the frame I0 and bowl 8 are of relatively heavy construction. The improved scraper has proven highly successful in actual commercial use, and has thoroughly demonstrated its ability to handle large quantities of various kindsof material at a minimum cost per cubic unit.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit the invention tothe exact details of;

construction and to the precise mode of operation herein shown and described, for various modifications within the scope of the claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

I claim:- 1. In a scraper, a bowl supported to swing about a rear pivot, a frame supported toswing about a a front pivot and having side arms pivotally supporting the front of said bowl outwardly beyond.

the-opposite sidesthereof to leave the space above the bowl entirely free from obstruction, means ,coacting with the rear ends of said arms for relat'vely moving said bowl and frame to raise and lower said bowl, and an aproncooperable with the front of said bowl and pivotally suspended from said armsto swing about the same pivotal axis about which said bowl is movable-relative to said frame.

2. In a scraper, fulcrum, a framehaving a front fulcrum and spaced arms extending rearwardly along the op-.

posite sides of saidfbowl to leave the space above the bowl entirely free from obstruction, a pivotal connection between the front of saidbowl and a medial portion of each of: said frame arms, means coacting with the rear ends of said arms for relatively moving said bowl and frame to move said bowl fromdigging to carrying position and --vice versa, and an apron suspended from said from'the front of said bowl.

3. In a scraper, a bowl having arear supporting axle, a frame having a front pivotal support and side arms extending rearwardly at the opposite sides of said bowl, alined pivots connecting vthe opposite sides of said bowl with medial portions of said arms, and a hydraulic jack interposed between the rear end of each of said arms and 'said bowl forraising and lowering the latter;

4. In a scraper, rear and front wheels, a bowl fulcrumed to swing about said rear wheels, a frame having spaced arms fulcrumed to swing about said front wheels, a pivot connecting .a

' front portion of said bowl with said frame arms, a cross-beam rigidly interconnecting the rear ends of 'said arms, mechanism coacting directly with said beam for relatively moving said bowl and frame about said pivot, and an apron suspended from said pivot and swingable toward and away from said bowl, the space above said bowland apron being entirely free from obstruction. J r

a bowl having a rear 7 pivotal connection to move toward and away ,5.'In a scraper, a bowl tiltable about a'rear pivot, a frame tiltable about a front pivot and havingspaced side arms extending'along the 0pposite sides of said bowl, a pivotal connection between each of said side arms and said bowl, an

apron swingable about said pivotal connection toward and away from the front of said bowl, and means coacting with the rear ends of said arms for relatively moving said bowl and frame about said pivotal connection,

6. In a scraper, a bowl having a front cutting edge and a rear pivotal support, a frame having a front pivotal support and spaced arms extending adjacent to the opposite sides of said bowl, pivot means connecting eachside of said bowl with the adjacent frame arm, and means interposed between the rear ends of said arms and said bowl for moving the latter.

'7. In a scraper, a bowl having a front cutting edge and a rear pivotal support, a frame having a front universal pivotal support and rearwardly extending laterally spaced arms, pivot means connecting the forward side portions of said bowl tral' front goose-neck and side arms extending with the medial portions of said arms, a beam connecting the rear portions of said arms,'and jack means interposed between the rear portion of said bowl and said beam.

8. In a scraper, a bowl having ascurved bottom provided with a front cutting edge and side walls extending upwardly from said bottom and connected at their upper rear ends by a cross-beam, an ,actuating frame for saidbowl having a cenrearwardly along the side walls of said bowl, said side walls having their front ends pivotally attached to said beam arms, and elongatable means interposed between the rear ends of said frame 7 arms and the rear bottom portion of said bowl. 9. In a scraper, a bowl having a front cutting edge and a pivotal support disposed rearwardly of said edge, a frame having a front pivotal support and spaced side arms extending rearwardly along said bowl, alined laterally spaced pivots connecting the forward portion of said bowl with the medial portions of said arms, a beam connecting the rear portions of said arms, and laterally spaced hydraulic jacks interposed between said beam and said bowl. v 10. In a scraper, a bowl having a front cutting edge and side walls, a frame having side arms disposed near the upper portions of said-side I walls, alined pivots connecting said arms and the upper foremost portions of said walls, means said bowl, alined pivots connecting theopposite sides of said bowl with said arms, an apron suspended from said pivots and movable'toward and away from said bowl, and means associated with rear portions of said arms for relatively moving said frame and bowlto raise and lower the latter, the space above said bowl" and apron being entirely free from obstruction.

- '12. In a scraper, a frame having a front pivotal support and integral side arms, a bowl disposed between said side arms, alined pivots connecting the opposite sides of said bowl with said arms, an apron suspended from said pivots be- 'i tween said arms and-movable toward and away from said bowl, and means associated with said arms rearwardly of said pivots for moving said frame to raise and'lower said bowl and-apron,

j the space above said bowl and apron being entirely free from obstruction.

13. In a scraper, a frame having a front fulcrum and spaced parallel'sidearms, a bowl disposed between said side arms, pivotal means connecting said bowl with medial portions of said arms, an apron swingably suspended'from said and away from said bowl, and means coacting with end portions of said arms for raising and lowering said bowl and apron.

14. In a scraper, a' tiltable frame having rigid side arms,'a bowl suspended between said arms,

pivots connecting said bowl with said arms, an

apron suspended from said pivots for movement towardv and away from said bowl, and means associated with said arms rearwardly of said pivots for moving said arms to simultaneously raise or lowersaid bowl and apron, the space between said arms and above said bowl and apron being entirelyfree from obstruction.

EARL B. MALOON.

. arms by said pivotal means and inovabletoward 

